Inishowen’s crime statistics revealed

Buncrana Garda Station

Laura Glenn

New crime statistics published by the CSO have shown offences in Inishowen for the first quarter of 2014.

The Central Statistics Office recently released the crime statistics for the first quarter of 2014.

They reveal how there were 210 incidents of crime recorded at seven Garda stations in Inishowen - Buncrana, Burnfoot, Carndonagh, Clonmany, Moville, Muff and Newtowncunningham.

There were 19 burglaries, one robbery, 19 dangerous or negligent acts, 44 public order offences and 30 incidents of damage to property and the environment.

There were also four detections for controlled drugs, one weapons and explosives offence, and three fraud offences.

34 offences were classified under attempts/threats to murder, assaults, harassments and related offences and four offences against government, justice procedures and organisation of crime.

Responding to the figures, Fianna Fail Councillor Paul Canning said the figures only show what has been reported.

Councillor Canning previously highlighted what he considers to be a lack of Garda resources within Inishowen. He told the ‘Journal’ senior Gardai have since tried to “silence” him on the subject.

He added that mounting paperwork has led Gardai to become “glorified secretaries” who aren’t being permitted to “get on with their job.”

He said: “I do believe these figures don’t show the half of it. People aren’t reporting a lot of crime because they’re thinking: “What’s the point?” They have to wait for forensics to come out or for something to happen.

“There is a lack of resources here and what’s happening is crazy. Most of these Garda stations are only open part-time.

“But, when I try to highlight this, I’m accused of leading criminals to the area, by telling them there’s no Gardai here.

“The last time I spoke out, there were two checkpoints in my area of Newtowncunningham the next morning. This obviously came from the top.

“They did it to show residents there were Gardai here and to get me to shut up - to stay silent. Local Gardai are carrying a heavy load.

“They’ve that much paperwork they’re like glorified secretaries and the people at the top don’t want to know. It’s crazy.”